Ignorant citizen complains to an ignorant Denny's manager and stupidity ensues:
- Are you a cop? Do you carry a gun? Don't go to the Denny's in Belleville, Ill.
You are not allowed, the police chief says. Not after what happened Tuesday.
The flapjacks -- sorry, the flap -- began when several on-duty detectives with the Belleville Police Department dropped in to Denny's for some on-duty noshing, according to local media.
They had their badges and their guns, but as detectives, not their uniforms, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This bothered a patron who then complained to a manager, David Rice, who then complained to one of the detectives: Please take your gun to your car or leave. No guns allowed.
Denny's attempted a walk-back and offered a half-hearted apology after finding out these were on-duty detectives, but Belleville Chief William Clay was having none of it:
- "This was an insult, a slap in the face, to those detectives and to all of the men and women who proudly wear the uniform or badge and serve in law enforcement," Police Chief William Clay said, according to the News-Democrat.
"This individual [Rice] was the manager of Denny's. He therefore speaks for Denny's, in my mind. This policy effectively prohibits on-duty sworn police officers from dining in a Denny's Restaurant, but allows 'registered sex offenders,' 'felons' and or 'pedophiles' to enjoy a dining experience in Denny's."
Looks like Golden Nugget from here on out.